.png)
To: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Limpopo Premier Phopi Ramathuba
Save our indigenous trees from mining!
Photo Credit: Tuul and Bruno Morandi
More than 20,000 baobabs face potential destruction in the southern and northern zones of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MM-SEZ) due to coal mining projects [1]. The MM-SEZ is a large-scale Chinese-South African industrial project located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo that will drive the expansion of coal mining in Limpopo’s Vhembe region [2] with ten planned open-cast coal mines.
A license issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment shows that about 1000 trees will be destroyed. In addition to this, there is another application to destroy a further 9000 trees [3]. Conservation groups have raised a red flag that other applications show that a further 658 058 protected trees will have to be cut down.
This industrial project has received official backing from President Ramaphosa and Premier Ramathuba, which shows once more that our government continues to put private and corporate interests before those of communities. The investors in this project have been promised a reduced corporate income tax of 15% instead of 27%. Large-scale mining projects devastate our communities and raise huge sociopolitical issues. While we acknowledge the opportunity for job creation, this project will cause irreversible damage to the area.
More than 20,000 baobabs face potential destruction in the southern and northern zones of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MM-SEZ) due to coal mining projects [1]. The MM-SEZ is a large-scale Chinese-South African industrial project located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo that will drive the expansion of coal mining in Limpopo’s Vhembe region [2] with ten planned open-cast coal mines.
A license issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment shows that about 1000 trees will be destroyed. In addition to this, there is another application to destroy a further 9000 trees [3]. Conservation groups have raised a red flag that other applications show that a further 658 058 protected trees will have to be cut down.
This industrial project has received official backing from President Ramaphosa and Premier Ramathuba, which shows once more that our government continues to put private and corporate interests before those of communities. The investors in this project have been promised a reduced corporate income tax of 15% instead of 27%. Large-scale mining projects devastate our communities and raise huge sociopolitical issues. While we acknowledge the opportunity for job creation, this project will cause irreversible damage to the area.
Working together, we can pressure the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment to decline the application to destroy thousands of protected trees. Baobab trees are indigenous to our country and should be preserved.
Why is this important?
An organisation called Living Limpopo is working to challenge this mega project. They have launched an inquiry into the legal status of the North Site of the MMSEZ, and will continue to monitor the licensing of protected tree destruction at all sites of the SEZ and the planned new coal mines.
They opposed the approval of the Water Use License, the Township Establishment and are participating in the Environmental Impact Assessment process and emissions licence applications for the ferrochrome smelter, coal washery and coking plants at the MMSEZ South Site.
The judicial review case brought in December 2022 by Living Limpopo, CALS and others against the decision to grant environmental authorisation for site establishment at the South Site, is still pending. All Rise will be in an unopposed hearing in the Polokwane High Court on 6 December to finally determine issues relating to the record of decision
Various farmers and indigenous communities are busy fighting this legislation. Our only duty as members of amandla.mobi is to give them the strength and support needed to advance this and protect tourism in Limpopo. Please add your name to the petition to protect our rich fauna and flora. We need to protect the ecology, biodiversity and heritage of areas in South Africa that are rich in these.
Various farmers and indigenous communities are busy fighting this legislation. Our only duty as members of amandla.mobi is to give them the strength and support needed to advance this and protect tourism in Limpopo. Please add your name to the petition to protect our rich fauna and flora. We need to protect the ecology, biodiversity and heritage of areas in South Africa that are rich in these.
References
[1] Mining permits threaten Limpopo's ecosystems and agriculture. FoodforMzansi, 29 November 2024. https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/mining-permits-threaten-limpopos-ecosystems-and-agriculture
[2] Thousands of Boabab trees are to be bulldozed in Limpopo by Barry Viljoen for The Citizen. 25 November 2024. https://www.citizen.co.za/network-news/lnn/article/thousands-of-baobab-trees-to-be-bulldozed-in-limpopo/
[3] Thirsty, energy-hungry steel 'monster' set to destroy thousands of Limpopo protected trees in industrial drive by Tony Carnie for the Daily Maverick. 14 November 2024. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-14-thirsty-energy-hungry-steel-monster-set-to-destroy-thousands-of-limpopo-protected-trees-in-industrial-drive
[1] Mining permits threaten Limpopo's ecosystems and agriculture. FoodforMzansi, 29 November 2024. https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/mining-permits-threaten-limpopos-ecosystems-and-agriculture
[2] Thousands of Boabab trees are to be bulldozed in Limpopo by Barry Viljoen for The Citizen. 25 November 2024. https://www.citizen.co.za/network-news/lnn/article/thousands-of-baobab-trees-to-be-bulldozed-in-limpopo/
[3] Thirsty, energy-hungry steel 'monster' set to destroy thousands of Limpopo protected trees in industrial drive by Tony Carnie for the Daily Maverick. 14 November 2024. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-14-thirsty-energy-hungry-steel-monster-set-to-destroy-thousands-of-limpopo-protected-trees-in-industrial-drive
